Posted on 06/25/2004 3:11:11 PM PDT by Long Cut
After banging around on some threads lately, it has become obvious that a decent number of FReepers are fans of Japan’s most famous monster, GODZILLA.
This is certainly understandable; that worthy creature has appeared in 28 movies over 50 years, has had two animated TV series, as well as a series of novels devoted to his exploits. Most of the movies we enjoyed as kids, whiling away Saturday afternoons in the days before cable with those great old ‘60s and ‘70s films with the Big G and his buddies Rodan, Mothra, Angilas, and a host of others. Lots of fun memories there, right? (C’mon...how many of you almost drove Mom crazy by trying incessantly to imitate the famous roar of Godzilla...at the top of your lungs? ‘Fess up.)
Myself, I have over 20 of Godzilla’s best (and worst) films on tape and DVD, as well as Daikaiju Eiga (giant monster movies) with other famous creatures of yore...Gamera the fiery turtle, Gorgo, and King Kong.
What is it that draws us to these creatures? Why do we take such pleasure in watching men in suits trash fake cities? WHO CARES?!?! They’re FUN!
Not only that, but they are perfectly suitable for our own children, being free of the sex and profanity so common today. Heck, I still own several Godzilla toys from years ago, and some NEW ones I “impulse bought”, to my wife’s chagrin, a few years ago when the American “GINO” (Godzilla In Name Only) came out.
Godzilla is actually a great fit for conservatives, is he not? Let’s see...he is steadfast in a fight, never running from confrontation and always standing up for himself.
He favors personal weapons, bringing his famous Atomic Breath (“Assault Breath”?) everywhere, carrying it concealed until needed. He has also taught his children the safe use of this weapon, as a good father should.
He is a good family man, taking care of both of his children single-clawedly, and homeschooling them besides. In fact, when one was taken by government agents (possibly from HHS), he retrieved the lad by leveling a city. As mentioned, he taught both the proper use of FIREarms.
He disdains illegal aliens, especially those from the planet Kilaak, whom he turned to cinders himself instead of bothering to wait for the INS. Repeat atmosphere-crossers, like Ghidorah, get similar treatment. In fact, no illegal aliens have ever faced anything but trouble from the Big Guy. He even destroys their ships, to prevent recidivism.
He hates government intrusion in his private life, such as when the government sends battalions of tanks to stop him from peaceably going for a walk. Not even David Koresh, however, reduced tanks to molten slag in defense of his Liberty.
He’s a team player as well as a good leader, having rallied other monsters to a cause and leading them on to victory, that being the obligatory stomping of (illegal) space alien ass, and of course the severe beating of Ghidorah.
He has no patience with the Endangered Species Act, which he proves by mauling and torching endangered giant mantises, spiders, and moths who pester him.
Yes, there’s a lot to like about the old geezer, and I figure that this is as good a place as any to discuss his and his bunch’s finer points.
So what’s your favorite movie? Favorite monster? How about the best battle, or what fight would you like to see? Let’s chew on that for a while...it’s the weekend!
You children crack me up. Can't imagine a world with three networks and no cable. GenX Godzilla my butt! That was entirely a post WW2 Japan-renaissance boomer movie if there ever was one.
Sorry about that. It works fine for me.
Thanks! I needed that.
woo-hoo!
First, Sony is releasing a series of G-films on DVD box sets! Three separete sets will be released this fall, with number of films in each (and price) going up with each. It seems they are "dumping" the American GINO film in with each, mainly to get rid of all the copies. The individual films will also be released separately.
For those who just have to have it all, with a bag of chips, order THIS box set from Toho...it contains ALL the G-films to date.
Pictures of GIGAN'S new look can be found HERE. They've really amped up the appearance of this old monster, giving him a menacing new look for GFW.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any new news on a release of TOKYO SOS?
Sony has picked it up, and will probably release it as a DVD.
*sigh* I can feel the $$ slipping through my pockets as we speak.
Agree completely about GINO. Fortunately, the films will also be released individually, so one can pick and choose.
Although, in a fictional sense, I've had some story ideas regarding GINO, or at least, a slightly-modified (so it looks cooler) version.
I wish I didn't neede licensing to write it. I own a couple of GINO toys from 1998, and the figures from Trendmasters tend to look a bit more MEAN and Godzilla-ish than the real movie creature. It inspired a few ideas.
"Toho reveals 11 monsters and more.
Toho held another press conference showcasing 11 of the Godzilla Final Wars monsters (a bigger photo is to come!). The following is a rough translation of the text in the article by Robert Saint John:
The monsters which will appear in the popular movie Godzilla FINAL WARS (Director Ryuhei Kitamura, December 4 release), the 28th film in the series, were assembled at the Toho studio in Seijo, Tokyo on the 16th, this year of the 50th anniversary.
11 bodies, such as the new Monster X and the new appearance of Godzilla, along with past popular monsters Gigan, King Caesar, Anguirus, Kumonga, Kamakiras, Ebirah, Hedorah, Rodan and Mothra, are lined up in this magnificent view, the Olympic Games of monsters.
The special-effects scene in which Gigan and 4 monsters pounce on Godzilla in the South Pole was announced yesterday. Also Mr. Tsutomu Kitagawa, who wears the body suit of Godzilla to meet although the Eiichi Asada special-ability supervisor showed confidence as Monsters taking out each highest work and developing an excessive battle the suit became light and the motion became good considerably. It had not lost, A tail turned and vigor was improved by kick.
Toho plans a world preview in the U.S. late in November, and also is putting world wide release into place.
Another article on Sponichi included the above photo of Godzilla and further information that Sydney, New York, Paris, Japan, and Shanghai may have simulataneous showings of Godzilla Final War on opening day of December 4 I assume. Also, baseball player Hideki Matsui of the NY Yankees would be in attendance.
Godzilla met his match in that movie where he fought MOIL-zilla!
But, let's not get all snippy about this.
Provided by Randall Flagg
New GFW news out!
Well, dang, now I'll have to stay up late and drink sh*tloads of coffee at work the next day...
I just found out that the three new Gamera movies will be released in a box-set DVD on 9/28/04.
And, it's gonna have a U.S. theatrical premiere!
Also, in other news, it looks like Godzilla and the Smog Monster will face off in another movie!!!
I can't get any of those to open. I get this:
Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /editorials/editorials.php on this server.
http://www.monsterzero.us/
Bookmark it!
Apparently, they won't accept outside links. Strange...my bookmarks work just fine. The above IS the correct URL, though.
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